Canadian citizens and residents (persons permanently living in Canada), may be to sponsor relatives for immigration to Canada.

Among sponsored include:
Couples over 16 years of age;
parents and their parents;
Children who are dependents, including adoptive;
Brothers and sisters, nephews and nieces, if they are orphans, no more than 18 years of age and are not in a marital relationship;

* son or daughter is considered dependent if:
they are not 22 years old and they are not in a marital relationship;
they are full-time student of the university and are totally dependent on sponsor's material;
financially dependent on the sponsor because of their own incapacity.

Spouses
spouses are only a couple having state registration.
If the marriage was entered into in Canada, the spouse must have a marriage certificate (Certificate of Marriage), issued by the province where the marriage was registered.
If a marriage entered into outside of Canada, the marriage must be completed under the laws of the country where the marriage took place at the same time meet the laws of Canada.

gay marriage
Citizens and residents of Canada may be to sponsor their same-sex couple if the marriage certificate issued by one of the following provinces:
Quebec (on or after March 19, 2004)
Ontario (on or after June 10, 2003) ;
British Columbia (on or after July 8, 2003)
Yukon (on or after July 14, 2004)
Manitoba (on or after September 16, 2004)
Nova Scotia (on or after September 24, 2004)
Saskatchewan (on or after November 5, 2004)

may not be sponsored by same sex partners as spouses, if: ;
The marriage was registered outside the above-mentioned provinces;
marriage was registered outside of Canada;
If sponsored by a partner is married to a citizen or resident of Canada.

Civil marriages
Civil marriages between same-or opposite sex, may also qualify for sponsorship if it is possible to prove cohabitation for at least one year without interruption.

Do not be sponsored as a spouse or common-law partner:
People who have not attained 16 years of age;
Persons who are married, just as not may sponsor, persons who are married;
Persons who are cohabiting, but more than one year are not living together;
sponsors can not be the person who is already sponsoring spouses and three years for which signed financial obligations to the state has not yet expired.